After acquiring Noah Dobson from the New York Islanders on Friday, Montreal Canadiens’ GM Kent Hughes got right back to work on Saturday Morning. The Habs had two picks in the second round, picks 41 and 49 overall, but the Canadiens’ brass felt like it was unlikely their man would still be there then.

As a result, Kent Hughes sent both of these picks to the Carolina Hurricanes for their 34th overall pick and swooped in to select a 6-foot-1 and 163-pound right winger from Russia, Alexander Zharovsky.

Last week, we reported that the Canadiens were attending the Gold Star showcase in Florida to meet the youngster. After his selection, the Canadiens’ communication department told us they wouldn’t be organizing a Zoom call with the forward because his English is very limited. This means he will have another aspect to develop, in addition to putting up muscle.

This is where Nick Bobrov’s connections in Russia pay off. Zharovsky possesses an impressive mix of skills and talent, and while there’s still some significant development to be made, he has a very high ceiling if he fulfills his potential.

It’s a gamble, but if it pays off, it will have been very much worth sacrificing a second-round pick. This is precisely why the Canadiens have been accumulating several assets, allowing them to move up when they felt it was warranted.

It’s going to take some time before we see if the gamble pays off. Still, if it does, Ivan Demidov could have a countryman to play alongside too, and by then, the Habs’ rookie would be well accustomed to Montreal, the people, the market, and the show, making him a perfect guide for Zharovsky.

More than a countryman actually, TVA Sports' Anthony Martineau reported that Zharovsky is Demidov's childhood friend and that he's knows the Canadiens rookie since he was eight years old. When Martineau spoke to him, he had just hung up with Demidov who called to congratulate him, the two are very excited at the thought of playing together down the line. For now though, Zharovsky has a valid contract in Russian until the end of May 2027.

Photo credit: Eric Bolte - Imagn Images 

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